The Above-Average Guy and Politics

What's Your Poll Position?

By now, you may have serious election fatigue. But deciding not to vote because you're annoyed with all the political propaganda isn't a smart choice. "You may not like the negative ads or even the candidates, but those are the choices," says Jan Leighley, Ph.D., a professor of government at American University. Think of voting as a decision; you're choosing the policies that will govern your life over the next 10 to 20 years, Leighley says.

Come up with the two issues that affect you most and find out the candidate's positions on them. Even if you don't live in a swing state, your vote matters, especially in local races. "That's where one ballot can truly make a difference," she says. (Find out if your favorite candidate made the list of the Fittest Men in Politics.)

How do you compare when it comes to other guys' views on civics? Here are some stats straight from the no-spin zone:

62: Percentage of men who voted in the 2008 presidential election

90: Percentage who say they plan to cast their ballot this time around

85: Percentage of men who watch election results unfold on TV

4 in 5: Number who also tune in for the barbs and snark of the presidential debates

84: Percentage of men who don't want online political ads tailored to them

32: Percentage who change the channel when they see a campaign ad

24: Percentage of men who spend little to no time researching issues before voting

8: Percentage who turn election-night coverage into a drinking game

1 in 5: Number of men who say they wouldn't date a woman whose politics opposed theirs

20: Percentage who say a political argument with their partner is a turn-on

44: Percentage of men who get into political discussions at the office

25: Percentage who've had an argument about politics with one of their coworkers

32: Percetage of men who say their political views are gradually veering closer to those of their parents

0.4: Percentage of men who give more than $200 a year to political candidates and causes

7 in 10: Number of men who are satisfied with where the country is going

2 in 5: Number who've ever penned a letter to a congressman to vent their dissatisfaction

51: Percentage of men who say they don't let pundits influence their opinions

9: Percentage of men who say the First Lady factors into their voting decision

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